This is a list of famous people from

Bergen Bergen (), historically Bjørgvin, is a city and municipality in Vestland county on the west coast of Norway. , its population is roughly 285,900. Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway. The municipality covers and is on the peninsula of ...

, Norway.

Artists and actors

Carl Christian Vogel von Vogelstein - Johan Christian Clausen Dahl

Johan Christian Dahl Johan Christian Claussen Dahl (24 February 178814 October 1857), often known as or , was a Danish-Norwegian artist who is considered the first great romantic painter in Norway, the founder of the "golden age" of Norwegian painting, and, by some ...

(1788–1857), painter. *

Helge Jordal Helge Jordal (born 17 February 1946) is a Norwegian actor. He was appointed a Knight of the Royal Order of St. Olav in 2006 for his long career as an actor both on screen and on stage, and for his position as a "grand old man" among Norwegian a ...

(1946–) actor * Elly Kjølstad (1850–1930), actress *

Frank Krog Hallgeir Frank Krog (5 October 1954 – 23 December 2008) was a Norwegian actor. Krog was born in Bergen. He started his career as a stage worker and extra at the theatre Den Nasjonale Scene, but later attended the Norwegian National Academy ...

(1954–2008), actor *

Bjarte Hjelmeland Bjarte Hjelmeland (born 24 February 1970) is a Norwegian actor and theatre director. He was born in Bergen. He made his stage debut in 1991 at Oslo Nye Teater, and also had notable roles at the National Theatre, Rogaland Teater, Torshovteatret, ...

(1970–) actor * Vegard Ylvisåker (1979–) &

Bård Ylvisåker Ylvis () are a Norwegian comedy duo consisting of brothers Vegard and Bård Ylvisåker. They debuted as professional variety artists in 2000 and have since appeared in several countries in variety shows, comedy concerts, television shows, radio ...

(1982–) comedians, musicians, talk show hosts *

Kygo Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll (born 11 September 1991), known professionally as Kygo (), is a Norwegian DJ and music producer. He garnered international attention with his December 2013 remix of the track "I See Fire" by Ed Sheeran and his December 201 ...

(1991–) Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll, DJ, record producer *

Alan Walker Alan Olav Walker (born 24 August 1997) is a British-born Norwegian music producer and DJ primarily known for the critically acclaimed single " Faded" (2015), which was certified platinum in 14 countries. He has also made several songs including ...

(1997–) producer *

KREAM Kream (stylised as KREAM) is a Norwegian DJ and record producer duo consisting of brothers Daniel and Markus Slettebakken, from Bergen. Career 2016 - 2019 In 2017 KREAM signed with Atlantic Records / Big Beat Records and released the son ...

(brothers Daniel and Markus Slettebakken) record producers *

Daniel Simonsen Daniel Simonsen is a Norwegian comedian and actor. Career Simonsen has performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe since 2009. As well as his Newcomer Award, his show "Champions" received positive reviews, he supported Simon Amstell on his UK tour ...

, comedian, actor

Authors

Dorothe Engelbretsdotter Dorothe Engelbretsdatter (16 January 163419 February 1716) was a Norwegian author. She principally wrote hymns and poems which were strongly religious. She has been characterized as Norway's first recognized female author as well as Norway's fi ...

(1634–1713) author. *

Ludvig Holberg Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg (3 December 1684 – 28 January 1754) was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Dano-Norwegian dual monarchy. He was influenced by Humanism, ...

(1684–1754), playwright. *

Johan Sebastian Welhaven Johan Sebastian Cammermeyer Welhaven (22 December 1807 – 21 October 1873) was a Norwegian author, poet, critic, and art theorist. He has been considered "one of the greatest figures in Norwegian literature." Background Johan Welhaven was born ...

(1807–1873) author, poet. *

Amalie Skram Amalie Skram (22 August 1846 – 15 March 1905) was a Norwegian author and feminist who gave voice to a woman's point of view with her naturalist writing. In Norway, she is frequently considered the most important female writer of the Modern Bre ...

(1846–1905) author *

Arnulf Øverland Ole Peter Arnulf Øverland (27 April 1889 – 25 March 1968) was a Norwegian poet and artist. He is principally known for his poetry which served to inspire the Norwegian resistance movement during the German occupation of Norway during World ...

(1889–1968) author *

Carl Søyland Carl Søyland (May 19, 1894 – December 1978) was a Norwegian born, American author, reporter, editor and community leader. Background Carl Søyland was born in Bergen, Norway. He was the son of Tønnes James Søyland (1859–1917) and Kri ...

(1894–1978)

Norwegian American Norwegian Americans ( nb, Norskamerikanere, nn, Norskamerikanarar) are Americans with ancestral roots in Norway. Norwegian immigrants went to the United States primarily in the latter half of the 19th century and the first few decades of the ...

editor-in-chief of ''Nordisk Tidende'' *

Nordahl Grieg Johan Nordahl Brun Grieg (1 November 1902 – 2 December 1943) was a Norwegian poet, novelist, dramatist, journalist and political activist. He was a popular author and a controversial public figure. He served in World War II as a war corresponde ...

(1902–1943) poet, author *

Torborg Nedreaas Torborg Nedreaas (13 November 1906 – 30 June 1987) was a Norwegian writer. She received the Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature, the Dobloug Prize, the Nordic Council's Literature Prize. Biography She was born in Bergen, Norway. Until 1947 ...

(1906–1987) author and winner of the Kritikerprisen *

Babbis Friis-Baastad Babbis Friis-Baastad (née Blauenfeldt; 21 August 1921 – 10 January 1970) was a Norwegian children's writer. Personal life She was born in Bergen to Carl Heinrich Blauenfeldt and Edel Johanne Mønness, and grew up in Oslo as an only chil ...

(1921-1970) children's writer *

Gunnar Staalesen Gunnar Staalesen (born 19 October 1947) is a Norwegian writer. He is a major figure in the Nordic noir crime fiction genre through his 19 novels featuring Varg Veum, a private detective in Bergen on the rainy west coast of Norway. The Varg Veum s ...

(1947–) author

Musicians

Edvard Grieg (1888) by Elliot and Fry - 02

Ole Bull Ole Bornemann Bull (; 5 February 181017 August 1880) was a Norwegian virtuoso violinist and composer. According to Robert Schumann, he was on a level with Niccolò Paganini for the speed and clarity of his playing. Biography Background Bull was ...

(1810–1880), violinist, composer. *

Edvard Grieg Edvard Hagerup Grieg ( , ; 15 June 18434 September 1907) was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is widely considered one of the foremost Romantic era composers, and his music is part of the standard classical repertoire worldwide. His use of ...

(1843–1907), composer, pianist. *

Harald Sæverud Harald Sigurd Johan Sæverud (17 April 1897 – 27 March 1992) was a Norwegian composer. He is most known for his music to Henrik Ibsen's ''Peer Gynt'', '' Rondo Amoroso'', and the ''Ballad of Revolt'' ( no, Kjempeviseslåtten). Sæverud ...

(1897–1992), composer *

Jan Eggum Jan Eggum (born 8 December 1951) is a Norwegian singer-songwriter. He has been characterized as a "face for the melancholy", and the themes in his songs are often broken hearts, loneliness, and sorrow. Sometimes his lyrics include social critici ...

(1951–) singer-songwriter *

Truls Mørk Truls Olaf Otterbech Mørk (born 25 April 1961) is a Norwegian Cello, cellist. Biography Mørk was born in Bergen, Norway to a cellist father, John Fritjof Mørk, and a pianist mother, Turid Otterbech. His mother began teaching him the piano wh ...

(1961–) cellist *

Sissel Kyrkjebø Sissel Kyrkjebø (; born 24 June 1969), also simply known as Sissel, is a Norwegian soprano. Sissel is considered one of the world's top crossover sopranos. Her musical style ranges from pop recordings and folk songs, to classical vocals and op ...

(1969–) singer *

Magnet (musician) Magnet is the pseudonym of Norwegian singer-songwriter Even Johansen (born 7 June 1970). To date, he has released five full-length studio albums as well as several singles and EPs. Johansen draws upon many influences, including folk, pop, and el ...

(1970–) musician * Roger Tiegs (1972–) musician: Gorgoroth * Olve Eikemo (1973–) musician: Immortal *

Varg Vikernes Louis Cachet (born Kristian Vikernes; 11 February 1973), better known as Varg Vikernes (), is a Norwegian writer and retired musician best known for his early black metal albums and later crimes. His first five records, issued under the name Bur ...

(1973–) musician * Tom Cato Visnes (1974–) musician: God Seed/Gorgororth * Kristian Espedal (1975–) musician: God Seed/Gorgororth *

Erlend Øye Erlend Øye (born 21 November 1975) is a Norwegian composer, musician, producer, singer and songwriter from Bergen, best known for being one half of the indie folk duo Kings of Convenience, along with Eirik Glambek Bøe. Among other musical pro ...

(1975–) musician *

Eirik Glambek Bøe Eirik Glambek Bøe (born 25 October 1975) is a Norwegian musician, writer and vocalist, best known for being part of the indie folk duo Kings of Convenience together with Erlend Øye. He has a degree in psychology from the University of Bergen. ...

(1975–) musician *

Kurt Nilsen Kurt Erik Nilsen () (born 29 September 1978) is a Norwegian pop/country singer. He won the first season of the Norwegian reality show ''Idol'', which aired on TV 2 in May 2003. He then won a one-off international version of ''Pop Idol'' called ...

(1978-) musician, singer-songwriter *

Anne Lilia Berge Strand Anne Lilia Berge Strand (born 21 November 1977), known professionally as Annie, is a Norwegian singer, songwriter, record producer and DJ. She began her recording career in 1999 with the underground hit single " The Greatest Hit" and gained int ...

(1978–) musician *

Einar Selvik Einar Selvik (born 18 November 1979), also known by his stage name Kvitrafn ("white raven"), is a Norwegian musician known for being the drummer in the black metal band Gorgoroth from 2000 to 2004, and for fronting the Nordic folk project Wardru ...

(1979-) musician: Gorgoroth/Wardruna *

Sondre Lerche Sondre Lerche (; born 5 September 1982) is a Norwegian singer, songwriter and guitarist, now based in Los Angeles, California. He has released nine studio albums. Early life Growing up in a suburb of Bergen, Lerche was heavily influenced by 1980s ...

(1982–) musician *

Lars Vaular Lars Nesheim Vaular (born September 20, 1984) is a rapper and songwriter from Åsane, Bergen, Norway. He started rapping in 2003. He initially released songs under the duo Tier'n og Lars before going solo. Tier'n & Lars Vaular had his beginnings ...

(1984–) rapper *

Christine Guldbrandsen Christine Guldbrandsen (born 19 March 1985 in Bergen, Norway) is a singer who is best known internationally for being the Norwegian entrant in the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest. She has released three albums in Scandinavia: ''Surfing in the Air'', ...

(1985–) singer *

Marthe Wang Marthe Haaland Wang (born 25 October 1990 in Bergen, Norway) is a Norwegian singer-songwriter and the cousin of upright bassist Ellen Andrea Wang. Biography Wang released her debut album ''Ut Og Se Noe Annet'' (2017). The album was well receiv ...

(1990-) singer-songwriter *

Aurora Aksnes Aurora Aksnes (born 15 June 1996), known mononymously as Aurora (stylized in all caps), is a Norwegians, Norwegian singer, songwriter and record producer. Born in Stavanger and raised in the towns of Høle and Os, Hordaland, Os, she began writin ...

(1996–) singer, songwriter *

Sigrid Sigrid is a Scandinavian given name for women from Old Norse ''Sigríðr'', composed of the elements ''sigr'' "victory" and ''fríðr'' "beautiful". Common short forms include Siri, Sigga, Sig, and Sigi. An Estonian and Finnish variant is Siir ...

(1996–) singer-songwriter

Scientists

Gerhard Armauer Hansen Gerhard Henrik Armauer Hansen () (29 July 1841 – 12 February 1912) was a Norwegian physician, remembered for his identification of the bacterium ''Mycobacterium leprae'' in 1873 as the causative agent of leprosy. His distinguished work was ...

(1841–1912)

leprosy Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a long-term infection by the bacteria ''Mycobacterium leprae'' or ''Mycobacterium lepromatosis''. Infection can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This nerve damag ...

researcher *

Leonhard Hess Stejneger Leonhard Hess Stejneger (30 October 1851 – 28 February 1943) was a Norwegian-born American ornithologist, herpetologist and zoologist. Stejneger specialized in vertebrate natural history studies. He gained his greatest reputation with reptil ...

(1851–1943)

ornithologist Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the "methodological study and consequent knowledge of birds with all that relates to them." Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and th ...

herpetologist Herpetology (from Greek ἑρπετόν ''herpetón'', meaning "reptile" or "creeping animal") is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians (gymnophiona)) and rept ...

and zoologist *

Hans Henrik Reusch Hans Henrik Reusch (5 September 1852 – 27 October 1922) was a Norwegian geologist, geomorphologist and educator. He served as director of the Geological Survey of Norway. Biography Born in Bergen, he was educated at the University of Leipz ...

(1852–1922) a geologist, geomorphologist and educator. * Reidar Fauske Sognnaes (1911–1984), Dean of the

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

School of Dental Medicine *

Ivar Giaever Ivar Giaever ( no, Giæver, ; born April 5, 1929) is a Norwegian-American engineer and physicist who shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1973 with Leo Esaki and Brian Josephson "for their discoveries regarding tunnelling phenomena in solids". Gi ...

(born 1929)

Nobel Prize in Physics ) , image = Nobel Prize.png , alt = A golden medallion with an embossed image of a bearded man facing left in profile. To the left of the man is the text "ALFR•" then "NOBEL", and on the right, the text (smaller) "NAT•" then " ...

laureate in 1973

Politicians

Trond Torleivsson Benkestok Trond Torleivsson Benkestok (c. 1495 – 14 February 1558) was a Norwegian land owner, knight and feudal lord (''lensherre'') of Bergenhus Fortress. Biography Benkestok was born around 1495 (or before 1500) in Bergen to nobleman Torleiv Trondso ...

(1490–1558) nobleman * Georg Wallace (1804-1890) elected to the Storting in 1850 for Bergen * Christian Wilhelm Wisbech (1832–1897) elected to parliament in 1883 and 1889 *

Christian Michelsen Peter Christian Hersleb Kjerschow Michelsen (15 March 1857 – 29 June 1925), better known as Christian Michelsen, was a Norwegian shipping magnate and statesman. He was the first prime minister of independent Norway and Norway's 9th prime minis ...

(1857–1925) ship owner,

Prime Minister of Norway The prime minister of Norway ( no, statsminister, which directly translates to "minister of state") is the head of government and chief executive of Norway. The prime minister and Cabinet (consisting of all the most senior government department ...

Albert Viljam Hagelin Albert Viljam Hagelin (24 April 1881 – 25 May 1946) was a Norwegian businessman and opera singer who became the Minister of Domestic Affairs in the Quisling regime, the puppet government headed by Vidkun Quisling during Germany's World War II ...

(1881–1946) politician for the Nasjonal Samling *

Ingvald B. Aase Ingvald Berentin Aase (5 February 1882 – 23 May 1948) was a Norwegian trade unionist and politician for the Labour and the Communist parties. He was born in Bergen as a son of Baste Olsen Aase (1850–1936) and Marta Mundal (1852–1895). He ha ...

(1882–1948) trade unionist and politician for the Labour and Communist parties * Carl Joachim Hambro (1885–1964) politician, President of Parliament *

Erna Solberg Erna Solberg (; born 24 February 1961) is a Norwegian politician and the current Leader of the Opposition. She served as the 35th prime minister of Norway from 2013 to 2021, and has been Leader of the Conservative Party since May 2004. Solberg wa ...

(1961- ) 28th

Marte Mjøs Persen Marte Mjøs Persen (born 24 April 1975) is a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party. She has served as minister of labour and social inclusion since 2022, and minister of petroleum and energy from 2021 to 2022. She served as the mayor of Berg ...

(1975- ), member of the

Cabinet of Norway The Council of State (Norwegian: ''Statsrådet''), is a formal body composed of the most senior government ministers chosen by the Prime Minister, and functions as the collective decision-making organ constituting the executive branch of the ...

Sport

Roald Jensen Roald Jensen (11 January 1943 – 6 October 1987), nicknamed "Kniksen", of Bergen, Norway was one of that country's most celebrated association football players. He played for SK Brann and Heart of Midlothian F.C. ("Hearts"). ''Knicksen'' is a lo ...

(1943–1987) football player *

Terje Hauge Terje Hauge (born 5 October 1965 in Bergen, Norway) is a former Norwegian football referee from the club Olsvik IL. Career Since he made his debut in 1990, Hauge has refereed 232 matches in the Tippeligaen. He has been an authorised FIFA refe ...

(1965–) football referee *

Arne Sandstø Arne Sandstø (born 21 October 1966) is a Norwegian football manager and former player. Sandstø made seven appearances in Germany's 2. Bundesliga for Tennis Borussia Berlin during his playing career. Managerial career Under Sandstø's lea ...

(1966-) football manager *

Mia Hundvin Mia Terese Hundvin (born 7 March 1977) is a former Norwegian handball player. Career Hundvin played 73 matches for Norway's national handball team in addition to playing for professional clubs. She was part of national teams that won the European ...

(1977-) handballer *

Erik Huseklepp Erik André Huseklepp (born 5 September 1984) is a Norwegian professional football coach and former player who is currently assistant coach at Brann. A former forward, he previously played for Fyllingen and Brann in Norway, for Bari in Ital ...

(1984–) football player *

Alexander Dale Oen Alexander Dale Oen (; 21 May 198530 April 2012) was a Norwegian swimmer. He represented the clubs Vestkantsvømmerne (1995–2010) and Bærumsvømmerne (2011–2012). Dale Oen's gold at the 2008 European Championships made him the first Norwegi ...

(1985–2012) swimmer *

Magnus Midtbø Magnus Midtbø (15 December 1942 – 25 February 2010) was a Norwegian trade unionist and politician for the Labour Party. He was born in Ålvik. He took education in electronics, and worked in this field before becoming a leading trade uni ...

(1988-) climber *

Jakob Glesnes Jakob Glesnes (born 25 March 1994) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union. Club career Early career He hails from Steinsland in Sund and started his career in local Sk ...

(1994-) football player *

Renate Blindheim Renate Køppen Blindheim (born 17 March 1994) is a Norwegian football manager and former footballer who is currently manager of Norwegian 2. divisjon club Sotra. In June 2020, Blindheim gained attention for being the first female manager to manag ...

(1994-) football manager *

Gustav Iden Gustav Iden (born 1 May 1996) is a professional Norwegian triathlete. He is a 2022 Ironman World champion and he is a two-time winner of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, winning in 2019 and 2021. At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, ...

(1996-) triathlete

Others

Ulrik Vilhelm Koren Ulrik Vilhelm Koren (December 22, 1826 – December 19, 1910) was a Norwegian-American author, theologian and church leader. A pioneer Lutheran minister, he played a significant role in the development of the spiritual and intellectual development ...

(1826–1910)

Norwegian-American Norwegian Americans ( nb, Norskamerikanere, nn, Norskamerikanarar) are Americans with ancestral roots in Norway. Norwegian immigrants went to the United States primarily in the latter half of the 19th century and the first few decades of the ...

Lutheran church leader *

Tryggve Gran Jens Tryggve Herman Gran (20 January 1888 – 8 January 1980) was a Norwegian aviator, polar explorer and author. He was the skiing expert on the 1910–13 Scott Antarctic Expedition and was the first person to fly across the North Sea from ...

(1889–1980) aviator *

Leif Andreas Larsen Leif Andreas Larsen DSO, DSC, CGM, DSM and Bar (9 January 1906 – 12 October 1990), popularly known as "Shetlands Larsen", was a highly decorated Norwegian sailor. He was arguably the most famous of the men who operated the Shetland bus esca ...

(1906–1990) naval officer *

Max Manus Maximo Guillermo "Max" Manus DSO, MC & Bar (9 December 1914 – 20 September 1996) was a Norwegian resistance fighter during World War II, specialising in sabotage in occupied Norway. After the war he wrote several books about his adventure ...

(1914–1981) decorated resistance-fighter *

Terje Rød-Larsen Terje Rød-Larsen (born 22 November 1947) is a Norwegian diplomat, politician, and sociologist. Rød-Larsen came to wide international prominence as a key figure in the 1990s negotiations that led to the Oslo Accords—the first-ever agreements ...

(1947–) diplomat, sociologist *

Peter Sunde Peter Sunde Kolmisoppi (born 13 September 1978), alias brokep, is a Swedish entrepreneur and politician. Sunde is of Norwegian and Finnish ancestry. He is best known for being a co-founder and ex-spokesperson of The Pirate Bay, a BitTorrent sea ...

(1978–) entrepreneur,

The Pirate Bay The Pirate Bay (sometimes abbreviated as TPB) is an online index of digital content of entertainment media and software. Founded in 2003 by Swedish think tank Piratbyrån, The Pirate Bay allows visitors to search, download, and contribute mag ...

El Rubius Rubén Doblas Gundersen (; born 13 February 1990), better known as elrubiusOMG or simply El Rubius (), is a Spanish-Norwegian YouTuber whose channel primarily consists of gameplays and vlogs. He has the most subscribers in Spain and is among th ...

(1990–) Rubén Gundersen, YouTube personality, the 49th most subscribed on YouTube

References

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